Part-Time Rare Plant Care Specialist
Position Title: Rare Plant Care Specialist
Reports To: Business Owner
Location: Alamo Ranch, San Antonio, TX 78253
Hours: Flexible schedule – 5-30 hrs/week (Part Time) Sat-Mon required
Pay: W-2 employee, starting at $15
About the Role
We’re a small, quality-focused plant nursery that values kindness, integrity, and doing things the right way. We're looking for a reliable, detail-oriented person whose primary responsibility will be caring for our Alocasia collection through careful observation and watering. This role also supports day-to-day nursery operations, order preparation, and inventory. Attention to detail is critical. Many of our plants are very rare.
Who You Are (Ideal Candidate)
You’re someone who enjoys hands-on work and doesn’t mind getting a little dirty. You’re flexible, open to taking on new tasks as they come up, and comfortable bending, kneeling, or working close to the ground. You’re able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs including up stairs. You value doing things the right way, even when they take a little longer, and you treat plants, people, and workspaces with respect.
You enjoy paying attention to small details and noticing subtle changes. You're comfortable making careful observations, following established procedures, and asking questions whenever you're unsure. You understand that doing a task correctly is more important than rushing through it.
Bonus points for experience in:
- photography
- social media
- marketing
- customer service
- order fulfillment or sales
Work Environment
Most work takes place indoors. Our nursery includes two indoor greenhouses and a designated packing/processing area. Tasks may occasionally require briefly stepping outside (e.g., moving supplies between areas). The work can be physical and may involve soil, water, and plant debris, but safety guidance and training are provided. You’ll work closely with the managing owner in a calm, organized environment where quality is the priority.
Core Responsibilities
1. Plant Care (Primary Responsibility)
- Water Alocasia according to established procedures
- Inspect plants daily for signs of thirst, stress, pests, or disease
- Learn to recognize subtle changes in plant health
- Follow watering procedures consistently without taking shortcuts
- Ask for guidance whenever uncertain before watering
- Perform basic plant care including cleaning leaves, repotting, corm collection, and pest management
2. Product Handling & Preparation
- Clean pots and containers
- Mix substrates and prepare planting media
- Lift and carry plants, materials, or equipment weighing up to 40 lbs
- Bend, kneel, or reach as needed to move, clean, or care for plants and equipment
- Preparing water jugs (fertilizer, algae fix, etc)
- Unpack, sort, and organize incoming supplies and plants
- Prepare shipping materials (boxes, tape, labels, cards, gift bags)
- Water and perform basic plant care
- Repot plants and collect corms
- Pest management (cleaning leaves, spraying insecticides, releasing beneficial insects)
3. Order Fulfillment
- Pull items and label for customer orders under supervision
- Print shipping labels
- Preparing products for sale under supervision
- Use checklists to prepare shipments accurately
4. Inventory Support
- Update inventory spreadsheets or software from notes
- Tag products with ID numbers
- Count inventory and report discrepancies or damaged items
- Maintain clean, organized storage and work areas
5. Administrative Tasks (as assigned)
- Enter data into inventory management software (customer info, supplier invoices, plants)
- Print, scan, and file documents
- Take basic product or process photos for records, marketing, sales
- Other duties as assigned
Boundaries & Restrictions
- You will not handle high-value plants until fully trained and approved
- You will not manage finances, refunds, or direct customer communication until approved
- You will not pack boxes independently until trained and approved
Performance Expectations
- Reliability: Arrives on time; communicates absences early
- Quality Over Quantity: Follows checklists and procedures carefully
- Kindness: Treats plants, customers, and coworkers with respect
- Integrity: Protects confidential information; reports mistakes honestly and promptly
- Attention to Detail: Consistently observes plants carefully and follows watering procedures accurately. Recognizes when something appears unusual and seeks clarification before acting.
Agreements & Compliance
- Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background check
- Must sign a confidentiality/privacy agreement
- Must follow all company policies related to data security and confidentiality
Tools & Training Provided
- Written checklists for all repeatable processes
- Safety guidance for plant handling and packing
- Ongoing training with gradual increase in responsibility
- Hourly pay increases available for proficiency in expanded tasks such as:
- Caring for premium plants
- Customer communication
- Independent packing
- Advanced repotting or corm processing
- Videography/Photography job functions
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: From $15.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Describe your experience caring for plants. Include the types of plants you've cared for and approximately how many.
- We are looking for someone who can delicately care for our rare Alocasia nursery. It requires extreme attention to detail, as some of our species are irreplaceable.
You can review our plants on IG @SidifenniPlants
If this is you so far, tell me more about yourself. I will read every response.
- This position requires Saturday, Sunday, and Monday shifts. The time is flexible, and could vary from 4-8 hrs each of those days.
Additional days are negotiable.
Does this work for you?
Ability to Commute:
- San Antonio, TX 78253 (Required)
Work Location: In person
